Sustainability and Social Responsibility

External Factors That Impact Apparel Repurposing Practice: Relationships Between Factors and Repurposing Levels

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Abstract

It is well known that textile waste is a serious issue and repurposing is a sustainable design practice that can extend a product cycle and reclaim existing goods for creative purposes. Engaging in the repurposing practice results in extended product use reflecting the user's renewed need. Creativity, or artistic expression, of repurposing designers is critical to generating innovative results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of external factors that impact consumers to practice apparel repurposing to suggest ways to promote and encourage creative sustainable apparel practices amongst consumers. Guided by previous research, external factors included sewing experience and select motivations. Hypotheses were formed that sewing experience, artistic expression, environmental concerns, monetary incentive, and age will have a significant influence on the frequency of usage of repurposing techniques (levels 1 to 4). An online survey research design was used for data collection. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: (a) demographic; (b) apparel consumption habits; (c) repurposing behaviors; and (d) sewing experience-related background. Results indicate that individuals who engage in repurposing levels that require low to moderate sewing skills (levels 1-3) do so because of environmental concerns. Interestingly, monetary incentive (engagement in the repurposing action to either make or save money) was significant within the reposing levels of 1 (restyle) and 3 (additive) only. Finally, repurposing apparel, no matter the level fills a creative need that individuals have to express themselves. Therefore, for individuals to engage in higher levels of creative expression through repurposing, a revival and expansion of soft-good 'making' instruction and training is needed. 

Keywords: Repurposing, Apparel, Sewing Experience, Artistic Expression

How to Cite:

Eike, R. J., Cho, S., Momotaz, F. & Burton, M., (2022) “External Factors That Impact Apparel Repurposing Practice: Relationships Between Factors and Repurposing Levels”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13500